Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As he said, he has engaged with me previously in a Topical Issues matter, oral questions, etc. There is a huge commitment from this committee. It is my objective to ensure that centres like Cork Life Centre are sustainable and that there is a very clear pathway forward for them. I understand, from my own experience, that the formal education setting satisfies the vast majority of students, although not all, and that every student is valuable. We need to find the maximum opportunity for every student to be happy, content and to learn in an environment that suits them. We have a number of education centres, similar to, but not entirely the same as Cork Life Centre. That is why the body of work around the review was undertaken. That has been completed; we are now on to the next stage, which is the implementation group. That group has just been formalised and has just begun its work.

I have already informed the committee that it is being chaired by the former CEO of Dublin City ETB, Ms Jacinta Stewart. There is a wide realm of experience sitting on that implementation group, including the Children's Rights Alliance, Jigsaw, representatives from justice, and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. There is a considerable body of expertise there. The objective is to ensure that we find a pathway forward to make these centres sustainable. I understand all of the points that have been raised in terms of staffing and the issues around staffing. The reason those issues are there around staffing is that staff are employed under terms and conditions in line with arrangements which apply to the settings in which they teach. This particular setting is outside the recognised school system. That is an issue for them. That will be considered as part of the implementation group and we will seek to find a pathway forward.

I have met with Cork Life Centre, as the Deputy is aware, and I know the value of the work they are doing. I have increased the Department's financial to them commitment over the last two years; it is now at a record high of €177,500 and there is a record high of 6,000 co-operation hours, which equates to the 8.5 full-time staff being made available. I have not changed that commitment this year, so that same level of staffing and funding is available to them. We need to find a way forward. I know everybody sitting around this committee and I know the Chair is also very invested in this, as is everyone else who sits here. I am doing all I can using the vehicle of the implementation group to find a solution or a viable way forward for all of the centres, including Cork Life Centre.